Chelsea: Why Reece James was absent from matchday squad for FA Cup tie amid injury concern | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca insists the Chelsea captain is fine despite his absence against the Seagulls

Enzo Maresca has eased fears over Reece James’s absence from Chelsea’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton, in a rare positive on a miserable night for his side.

However, speaking at full-time Maresca insisted his captain was simply being rested to manage his workload.

James had made only four appearances this season by the turn of the year, having struggled with a series of hamstring issues during the first half of the campaign.

He made his latest comeback in the previous round of the FA Cup against Morecambe and has featured in all four of Chelsea’s Premier League games since, starting the last three.

“It was planned,” Maresca confirmed. “He is okay. He’s training. It was just to protect him a bit.”

Pre-planned: Enzo Maresca and Reece James

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Maresca was also provided an update on Nicolas Jackson’s condition, with the striker having also sat out the trip to the south coast because of a hamstring problem.

Jackson’s presence up-front was sorely missed and while the Chelsea boss believes his absence will be short-term, he stopped short of confirming whether he will be fit when the sides meet again in the Premier League on Friday.

“Sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are,” he said. “We said many times about Nico, on and off the ball. Off the ball, his pressing is always very good and on the ball he’s a threat always.

“It wont be long but we’ll see if he’ll be available for the next game.”